I can not forbear just to let you know, how it's going with me
here in America, because I have already passed my 81 years on 10 March, and now I should
like to know how it goes [t]here, whether my brothers and sister are still alive or not.
There will probably be some people in the family, who will remember, that I and my wife
and five children departed from Dinxperlo 35 years ago.

I then arrived at Boston. There I was a
"koeper" (cooper?) for 7 years. The[re] I earned 700 dollars and with that
I travelled to the west and bought myself 80 acres of land and that I sold three years
ago.

I have my third wife and she has 7 children, from which
one daughter has married last year. She was 18 years old. Furthermore I let
you know, that I have a hundred acres of land, 5 cows, 6 head barren cattle, four horses,
one 8 years old, one four years old, one two years old and one from one year old.

I am old and the children are young, but I am doing the
most with machines. I have a grass-mower and a seed-mower, a sowing-machine and a
rake-machine. They cost a lot, almost 300 dollar, because the wages are also more
expensive than in Holland. Here one can earn good money.

If it should be, that in the family, there are people
who want to come over to live with us, whether married or not married, they can work by
me, and if they are married I will let her live on the sixty field (or acres?). The usage
here to let build (or grow?) for the half, then the owner gives nothing more, but I will
join the machines and also two horses and everything belonging to the use of horses like
the horse harnass on the horse-wagon, plough, harrow, .......... etc. Firewood, don't you
think about it, there is plenty.

Now I will just request you, that you just let me know
who cultivates the land on the "Brinkenveld". I do not know better than that it
is still mine, because I have sold the house, but not the land.

Furthermore I do not know much news to write, than that
I personally am determined to once come over to you if the good Lord lets me keep my
health.

The land that I sold three years ago I had to miss, but
where I am now it goes good without.

Now I end with the pen but not with my heart and
then just the greetings to all my friends and acquaintances, for I hope that you will
receive this letter in good health.

In expectation I remain your brother or uncle,
who calls himself

Hermanus Finkenvleugel

Now I expect an answer soon please.

The address is not Hermanes Finkenvleugel but
justHerman Fink,
Wrights Town, Brown[County Wisconsin.]

Furthermore, O yes, I had almost forgotten my
children from my first wife. The oldest son has been married in Boston, but he died and
has left a wife and three children, Johanna is in Oregon, Gertruida is in New York,
Hendrikus died in the war and therefore I receive a pension of 8 dollars each month. The
youngest daughter is in Arkansas. Those who live are all married. The youngest
daughter has 13 children, from which two are married.(LvdH: I assume he is speaking of Maria
Magdalena?)

Herman Finkenvleugel and Ana Maria Lauterbach
from Kobelens. (LvdH: I think this must be Koblenz in Germany)